Fourth G5 RoRo joins Grimaldi’s fleet

Naples-based Grimaldi Group  has taken delivery of the Great Abidjan, the fourth of six multipurpose ro-ro units belonging to the “G5” class and commissioned from the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.

The vessel’s naming and delivery ceremony was held on April 23, at the South Korean shipyard, and the Italian Ambassador to Seoul Emilia Gatto acted as the godmother of the vessel.

With a length of 250 metres, beam of 38 metres and deadweight of 45,684 tonnes, the Great Abidjan is able to transport 4,700 linear metres of rolling freight, 2,500 CEU (car equivalent units) and 2,000 TEU. Compared to the previous G4-class, the new vessels have the same capacity for rolling freight while their container capacity is doubled.

In addition to loading capacity, the Great Abidjan is equipped for cold ironing, utilizing shoreside electricity to replace fossil fuel consumption during port stays. Furthermore, the ship’s energy efficiency is enhanced with low-friction coatings, while hybrid exhaust gas cleaning systems are installed to mitigate sulphur and particulate emissions.

According to Grimaldi, energy efficiency solutions fitted on the vessel enable a reduction of CO₂ emissions per tonne transported of up to 43% compared to other Grimaldi con-ro multipurpose ships.

“The Great Abidjan is the outcome of a long and fruitful co-operation with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard which may continue in the future for the renewal of our existing fleet,”said Diego Pacella, President of Grimaldi Deep Sea S.p.A.

“Named after a port that has been regularly included in the routes served by our group for years, the vessel will be deployed, like her three sister vessels already in operation, on our deepsea connections between Northern Europe and West Africa.”

All the G5-class units are set to be delivered by the end of 2024 and deployed on the Grimaldi Group maritime services between Northern Europe and West Africa.

Moreover, Grimaldi Group has ordered a total of 17 ammonia-ready Pure Car & Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels as part of its massive fleet renewal plan comprising 26 ships. Apart from ammonia-ready newbuilds, the initiative also includes five “G5”-class multipurpose ro-ro units, two “GG5G”-class hybrid ro-ro vessels and two “Superstar”-class ro-pax ships (for the subsidiary Finnlines).